1 84 FORAGE CROPS. 



of grain included in a mixture, no better general 

 rule can be adopted than to use by measure equal 

 parts of each. But in some instances it will be 

 advantageous to depart from this rule. In some 

 soils, for example, peas may grow much more vigor- 

 ously than in others, and a less proportion of the 

 peas would be required in these, and so of each of 

 the other grains. The pasture produced by some 

 cereals is better relished by certain kinds of live 

 stock than that produced by others, hence more, 

 relatively, of these should be sown. 



Barley is more relished by swine than oats, 

 thus when these two are sown to provide swine 

 pasture, more of the barley should be used than of 

 the oats. Indeed, barley alone makes an excellent 

 swine pasture, but oats sown along with it prolongs 

 the term of pasturing. Again, the seed of some one 

 kind of grain may be so dear that it may be well to 

 omit it from the mixture. Wheat, for instance, 

 may be so much dearer than the other kinds of grain 

 that it would not be advisable to sow it with them. 



Cultivation. — Oftentimes further cultivation is 

 not needed after these mixtures have been sown, but 

 in instances not a few the harrow may be used with 

 some benefit to the pastures, and more especially 

 when a mixture of peas ^nd oats has been sown. 

 A light harrow only should be used, and with the 

 teeth aslant, unless the surface soil has become 

 encrusted. Usually the best time to use the harrow 

 is just before the grain comes up. Harrowing helps 

 to keep the soil moist and free from weeds. 



Pasturing. — The most suitable stage of growth 

 at which to begin the pasturing cannot be stated, as 

 it will vary with the character of the season, the 



